The Antonio Brown fantasy outlook is on the rise, as he is back making headlines once again.
For once, it is not because of something he said, or did, and not because the cops were at his front door. Instead, it is because his most recent suspension of eight weeks is almost finished.
The question is not whether he will get looks and consideration from different franchises, but rather should you consider him as an addition to your fantasy lineup?
We all know what kind of player he can be, but realistically, will Antonio Brown make an impact on this particular fantasy season?
Antonio Brown Fantasy Outlook
In short, the answer is yes.
Just how impactful he will be exactly will depend quite a bit on his landing spot.
There are many things that can be said about Brown, but one constant that remains true is that he does have a high football IQ and crazy athleticism.
He has been staying in shape and continuing to improve his football skills during his time away from the game. Brown has made this evident through a myriad of social media posts and YouTube videos. I have zero doubt about his ability to step onto the field and contribute right away.
Concerns With Antonio Brown
I understand if you need some convincing, as we have seen situations like this before.
Take Josh Gordon, for example. He is a big, freakishly athletic wideout who has had more than one instance of making his return to play.
With Gordon, it never goes that well fantasy-wise. He is good for a one-off touchdown, but typically is off the field just as quickly as he got back on it. At this point, very few people are willing to use a precious fantasy spot on a guy like Gordon.
Lucky for us, we are talking about Brown here, and AB is not Gordon.
There are vast differences between these two players.
Gordon was never considered the best WR in the NFL, while Brown held that title for more seasons than one. Flash Gordon has never played a full 16-game schedule, while Brown had some seasons where he could have legitimately been talked about as an MVP candidate.
Gordon has struggled to remain on the field and focused since the very beginning of his career, while Brown’s troubles really only started very recently.
Real Life vs Fantasy
There is a real point to be made about bringing in Brown to your franchise and, if his on-field contribution is worth all the other things that come surrounding him. Leave those tough choices to the real life GMs who are paid millions to make these decisions.
All you and I have to do is simply click a few buttons.
There are no morale conflictions. No salary considerations, and no team chemistry to worry about.
There is no reason not to give this guy a roster spot on your team.
Even if he does not put up big numbers in the first week or two, fantasy playoffs are already right around the corner. He’ll be a very nice option to have, if your team is borderline and you need some big time numbers in a make or break situation.
Brown’s body is fresh. His legs are going to be ready, and he will have eight less weeks of wear and tear than anyone else on the field.
Ideal Situation for Antonio Brown Fantasy Value
The ideal landing spot for him, in my mind, would be the Seattle Seahawks, and it looks like they are the most interested and in the best financial shape to bring him in.
We have already seen what DK Metcalf has been able to do out there with MVP candidate Russell Wilson at the helm.
Brown would not need to step in and be the top option, or even the second option, in Seattle. I don’t care who you are, or how versed he is in the play book, if Antonio Brown is seeing the defense’s third-best cover guy, he is winning that battle more often than not.
If it’s not Seattle, I’m still not worried. Brown will find a home and find success somewhere.
Currently, Brown is only rostered in 4.2% of ESPN leagues. I’m sure this number is set to spike with the recent news.
Reminder: Brown Does Possess Greatness
Do not forget what Brown was able to do not so long ago.
From 2013-18, Brown did not have a single fantasy season where he scored less than 300 points (PPR).
Within those years, he averaged 335.55 points per season, highlighted by 380.9 and 382.2 point performances in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
To put that into perspective, only one receiver in the NFL even broke the 300-point mark in the 2019 season (Michael Thomas), and just five guys total have done it dating back to 2016.
If your team has been battling injuries all season, or you are currently 3-3 or 2-4, what do you have to lose? Put your personal feelings aside, hit that add button, and watch the points pile up.
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